Panel to review statue: Advani
BJP 'not to play' second fiddle
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Nov 21 — The state BJP has announced to provide a new political alternative in Haryana in the next millennium.

The tone and tenor of the speeches made by the party functionaries —Mr Narender Modi, Mr Om Parkash Grover, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma and others — at the Shakti Sammelan held here today gave a clear indication that the BJP would not play second fiddle to any other party in future.

Although the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, the star star speaker, did not utter a word about the political scene in Haryana, he devoted most of his speech to educating the party workers about the ups and downs faced by the BJP since its inception two decades ago.

Mr Advani reiterated that a high-powered commission would be set up to review the Constitution at the time of its golden jubilee celebrations. Though many amendments had already been made to the Constitution in the past 50 years, the proposed commission would also recommend amendments, if necessary, to suit the changing needs.

He said the biggest challenge today was growing population and hoped that the country would solve this problem in the coming years. He also hinted at certain reforms in the election system.

The BJP sammelan, the first of its kind organised by the BJP in Haryana, was impressive show of strength. The party has, it appears, given a clear message to its adversaries and allies that it cannot be under estimated in future.

The All-India General Secretary and in charge of the Haryana affairs, Mr Narender Modi stressed the need for mobilising the rural youth and establishing a rapport with farmers and people if the party wanted to become a leading force in Haryana.

The state BJP chief, Mr Om Parkash Grover claimed that no-non-Congress government could be formed in Haryana without the support of the BJP. Haryana, he said, had been a trendsetter in national politics and it was evident after the formation of the Janata Dal government at the Centre in 1989 following the landslide victory of the Lok Dal and the BJP in 1987 in Haryana.

Mr Gorver said the party had a membership of 2.40 lakh in Haryana, but had much less share among the Scheduled Castes. He planned to enrol at least 50000 members from among the Scheduled Castes after December 6, the death anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

He regretted that development activity in the state had come to a standstill. The agriculture sector was facing an acute shortage of power and water. Nearly 75000 new tubewell connections were pending and the state was not getting the SYL canal water. Pleading for a time-bound action programme to mitigate the problems of the farm sector, the BJP leader demanded a remunerative price for the agricultural produce.

The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, while inaugurating the sammelan, said the power problem of Haryana could be solved with the cooperation of Himachal, which he said, had a vast scope for developing hydroelectric generation, which was the cheapest as compared to thermal generation.

He cautioned the Haryana BJP leaders that the party as yet was at number three in the state and its workers and activists would have to strive hard to acquire the second or the first position. However, he added that the task was not impossible.

Mr Dhumal regretted that even after decades of displacement, the oustees of the Bhakhra Dam and the Pong Dam had not yet been properly settled. Their rehabilitation, he said, was not the responsibility of the Himachal Government alone, but of the beneficiary states as well. All these states should jointly make efforts to settle them.

Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, leader of Legislature BJP, assured that his party would make all-out efforts to ensure the completion of the SYL canal in the next millennium.